Last week in the valley

LAST WEEK IN THE VALLEY

October 10, 2004|The Morning Call

Some of the week's top stories:

BETHLEHEM AREA

Payrow honor: After a lengthy debate about who deserved to be honored by Bethlehem's City Center Plaza, City Council on Tuesday voted 4-3 to rename the government complex after the city's first strong mayor. H. Gordon Payrow, who died nearly six months ago at the age of 86, served as mayor from 1962-1974 and pushed for the construction of the complex at 10 E. Church St. in the 1960s.

CARBON, SCHUYLKILL, MONROE

Police chief arrested: Brian Cara, police chief of Weatherly for 10 years, was arrested Wednesday and charged by state authorities with using seized drugs while on duty. Authorities said Cara, 38, of West Hazleton sometimes smoked marijuana a half-hour after arriving for work at 7 a.m. Cara has been suspended since August when state agents raided his office and seized drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Pazuhanich barred: Former Monroe County Judge Mark Pazuhanich on Tuesday was barred for life from holding judicial office in Pennsylvania, four days after saying he had been punished enough over charges he molested a 10-year-old girl. The state Court of Judicial Discipline issued a one-sentence order officially removing Pazuhanich from office and preventing him from ever holding a judgeship on any level in the state.

First volley in budget talks: Allentown City Council on Wednesday passed a largely symbolic ordinance that freezes the property tax rate. Mayor Roy Afflerbach must present council with a budget by Nov. 1, and he has suggested a 42 percent tax increase might be necessary to meet the needs of the 2005 budget.

EASTON AREA

Cullen guilty plea: Serial killer Charles Cullen pleaded guilty Thursday in Northampton County Court to killing Ottomar Schramm by injecting him with digoxin in Easton Hospital in 1998. Cullen may have killed as many as 40 patients in two states during his 16 years as a nurse. Cullen's sentencing was deferred until after Cullen is sentenced for similar murders in New Jersey.

Interim director: Frank V. Loretti, former Bethlehem Housing Authority executive director, was named Thursday as interim executive director of the Easton Housing Authority. He will replace Gary A. Smith, who announced his retirement, until the authority finds a permanent director. The Easton authority has drawn criticism over extravagant travel spending.